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Last updated on November 11, 2023
Oslob is one of the most popular snorkeling spots in the world, but it is also one of the most controversial.
At this location, whale sharks have been fed by guides and fishermen for 15 years in order to attract tourists and sell tours.
This practice has had several consequences on the marine fauna, and we do not recommend supporting this industry. If you still want to go there by yourself, here’s the necessary advice.
The whale shark interaction area is just off Barangay Tan-awan, a small village located about 7 miles south of Oslob.
The experience is regulated and you will need to book a tour through one of the many agencies in the area to get there. Access to the snorkeling area by swimming from shore is not allowed.
The cost of the whale shark tours is about $12 USD per person for non-residents (2023 rate). Some companies also offer day tours from Moalboal. At Moalboal there are some very good snorkeling spots, such as Panagsama Beach and White Beach) or Cebu.
Try to go very early, as the site is usually crowded. After a briefing on the whale shark interaction guidelines, your guide will take you to the snorkeling area aboard a small boat. Most whale sharks are encountered 50 yards from the beach.
You will enter the water from your boat.
Oslob whale shark watching is a very controversial activity. The whale sharks are fed by the guides to prevent them from migrating.
In addition to modifying their natural behavior and changing their migratory patterns, the sharks suffer from poor nutrition and are exposed to human interactions.
Hundreds of snorkelers and divers visit this spot every day, many of them breaching the guidelines and touching the sharks. Even the guides touch the sharks to prevent them from bumping their boats. Collisions with boats are frequent, and many sharks show signs of infection and lesions.
If you still decide to visit this spot, you will snorkel in a 15 to 22 feet deep area. Underwater visibility is usually great, particularly in the morning when the site is not totally chaotic.
Oslob features an impressive density of whale sharks, with dozens of individuals gathering here in a very small area.
Observation guidelines impose keeping a distance of 9 feet from the sharks, but the sharks often approach much closer to the boats and snorkelers. This is because they are fed between the outrigger and the hull of the boats.
The whale shark is the biggest fish in the sea and can measure up to 32 to 40 feet in length, and is truly impressive.
Snorkeling with whale sharks in Oslob lasts approximately 30 minutes. Pay attention to the many boats and snorkelers around you to avoid any collisions or fin strokes.
In the small village (Barangay) of Tan-awan, you will find many budget accommodations and restaurants.
These spots are accessible to anyone with basic snorkeling skills, and feeling comfortable in the water and with his snorkeling gear. You will enter the water from the shore (beach, pontoon, ladder, rocks) or from a boat. The water height in the sea entrance area is reasonable, but you will not necessarily be within your depth. Moderate currents can occur in the area, even when the sea conditions are good. The distance to swim to reach the most interesting snorkeling areas of the spot does not exceed 200 meters. This level only apply when the spot experiences optimal sea and/or weather conditions. It is not applicable if the sea and/or weather conditions deteriorate, in particular in the presence of rough sea, rain, strong wind, unusual current, large tides, waves and/or swell. You can find more details about the definition of our snorkeling levels on our snorkeling safety page.
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Snorkeling spots are part of a wild environment and their aspect can be significantly altered by weather, seasons, sea conditions, human impact and climate events (storms, hurricanes, seawater-warming episodes…). The consequences can be an alteration of the seabed (coral bleaching, coral destruction, and invasive seagrass), a poor underwater visibility, or a decrease of the sea life present in the area. Snorkeling Report makes every effort to ensure that all the information displayed on this website is accurate and up-to-date, but no guarantee is given that the underwater visibility and seabed aspect will be exactly as described on this page the day you will snorkel the spot. If you recently snorkeled this area and noticed some changes compared to the information contained on this page, please contact us.
The data contained in this website is for general information purposes only, and is not legal advice. It is intended to provide snorkelers with the information that will enable them to engage in safe and enjoyable snorkeling, and it is not meant as a substitute for swim level, physical condition, experience, or local knowledge. Remember that all marine activities, including snorkeling, are potentially dangerous, and that you enter the water at your own risk. You must take an individual weather, sea conditions and hazards assessment before entering the water. If snorkeling conditions are degraded, postpone your snorkeling or select an alternate site. Know and obey local laws and regulations, including regulated areas, protected species, wildlife interaction and dive flag laws.
